Editor,

It is time for the Port of Coupeville’s commissioners to be recalled and new leadership put in place.

The actions of the former commissioners last year, and the newest move by the current commissioners, once again place the Greenbank Farm and Coupeville Wharf in an unstable and dangerous place.

In the last year and a half there were what appears to be two separate occasions when Commisioner Mike Diamanti was surprised by motions brought to terminate important port personnel.

This tells me that meetings took place behind Commissioner Diamanti’s back, clearly violating state open public meetings laws.

Though I am greatly affected by the port’s decision to terminate its relationship with the Greenbank Farm Management Group, my family was able to move on.

But this most recent decision to remove Executive Director Forrest Rambo shortly after the resignation of the events coordinator reeks of short-sightedness and secret agendas.

It is time that the Coupeville Port Commission be recognized for a what it really is — a boys’ club. They do not represent the people who live within the district and have openly shown contempt for the public when we speak passionately about how their actions affect us.

I am calling for a complete dismissal of the port commisioners and a new round of elections so that the toxic element can be cut out, and the historic properties they manage are able to thrive once again.

We need new, diverse, community- oriented individuals who can see past their own agenda and want these community spaces returned to the people and not held hostage by bad politics.

So, who is with me. We have the power. Time to step up, Coupeville.

David Stern

Coupeville